Fake news: SARU v Roux report dismissed
REACTION: A report that the South African Rugby Union ‘might’ negotiated a ‘possible exit deal’ with Chief Executive Jurie Roux has been dismissed as fake news.
It is not the first cluster of fake news in Roux’s long-standing legal battle with his former employer, the University of Stellenbosch
A media report on Saturday suggested that SARU’s legal advisors are set for two key meetings next week with Jurie Roux’s lawyers.
The meetings, according to the now discredited report, could determine whether the organisation can reach an exit deal with their beleaguered CEO.
However, Roux’s lawyer Frikkie Erasmus dismissed the report.
“Absolutely no truth,” Erasmus told @rugby365com in reaction to the report.
“I am going to take up the matter [of the report] with the ombudsman,” he added.
The South African Rugby Union has on several occasions made it clear they are going to “follow the letter of the law”.
That makes the suggestion in Saturday’s report even more unlikely.
Unlike the court of public opinion – where the ‘guilty’ verdict is readily handed out without evidence – the national body has to go through a painstaking process to avoid future legal challenges.
SARU President Mark Alexander has publicly confirmed that a ‘specialist legal team’ and a sub-committee – consisting of Louis von Zeuner, Sam Ngumeni and Mary-Anne Musekiwa – are dealing with the Jurie Roux matter.
He added that the legal process is still underway and they are “not delaying” the process.
While the matter has played out very publicly in the media, they were required to obtain a detailed and comprehensive legal opinion.
“It requires of us to follow ‘due process’ in consideration and deliberation,” the SARU President told a recent parliamentary sports portfolio committee meeting.
“The ExCo [Executive Committee of SARU] cannot ignore these duties.
“SARU cannot be deemed to be above the law and act outside the confines of this legal process.”
He cautioned against “exposing the organization” by playing out the matter in the public domain and the media.
@king365ed
@rugby365com
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